V.F. Odoevskii (1804-69) was one of the most original and versatile writers of his generation. Written in 1839 and published the following year, The Cosmorama reflects the author's deep interest in the mystical and the non-rational. It tells tale of a small boy's involvement with a seemingly harmless child's toy which has fateful consequences for him and for those he encounters.
During the course of the story the narrator, Vladimir,...